Bolster



Sept. 11 1928.

F. E, RNDT Filed 001;. 25, 1927 Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES res n PATENT. GFFICB.

FRANKLIN E. ARNDT, OF GALION, OHIO, ASSIGIIOR TO THE GALION IRON WORKSMFG. CO., 015 GALION, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BOLSTER.

Application filed October 25, 1927. Serial No. 228,675.

This invention relates to bolsters, and particularly to a front axlebolster for a road grader of the type in which the frame bars aresupported at their rear ends upon a tractor unit which propels themachine, the tractor and all of the operating mechanism of the graderbeing under the control of a single operator, although it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limitedin this'regard but is ofmore general application.

The invention has for its primary object an improved construction offront axle bolwill be in all'positions of the axle held central or atthe middle thereof, and all undue twisting strains upon the parts beingavoided.

With this and other objects in view, as will more fully appear as thedescription procoeds, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which 7 I Figure 1 is avertical longitudinal. section of the forward end of a grader embodyingmy improved bolster.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3, is a top plan view of the bolster.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the front axle of aroad grader, and 2 the front wheels thereof. 3 designates generally myimproved front axle bolster. This bolster is in the form of a castingembodying a forwardly inclined front wall or plate 4, the upper portionof which is defined at its sides by upwardly and rearwardly inclinedvertically disposed and longitudinally extending wings 5, to the outerfaces ofwhich the forward ends of the channeled frame beams 6 arebolted, as best. illustrated in Fig. 2, the upper edges of the sidewings 5 being depressed slightly below the upper edge of the face plate4, as indicated at 7, to accommodate a transversely extending top plate8 riveted at its ends to the upper flanges of the channeled beams 6having its front edge extending preferably flush with the upper edge ofthe face plate 4,

Defining the lower portions of the side wings 5 the bolster is providedwith a transversely extending web 9 which is formed at its middle withan upstanding boss 10 having an opening 11 extending therethrough, thetransversely extending top plate 8 being formed with acorrespondingopening 12, and a bolt 13 extends through the openings 12and 11, being preferably held therein by means of cotter pins, as shown,this bolt and the boss 10 serving as the pivot point for the forwardends of the draw bars 14 which carry the circle and mold board of thegrader and which are preferably connected at their f0rward ends to acoupling head 15 resting at its lower side upon the boss 10 and formedwith a pivot opening to receive the plvot bolt 13 above mentioned.-

At its lower end the bolster 3 is formed with front and rear dependingskirt portions 16 which are preferably downwardly beveled towards theirlower edges, as indicated at'17. and which extend transversely,'asshown, in spaced relation to each other receiving between them the axle1 as clearly shown in the drawings, these skirt portions being joined attheir ends and upper portions by downwardly facing shoulders 18 disposedin the san'iehorizontal plane and adapted to rest firmly upon the top ofthe axle 1 in the normal horizontal position of the latter. Preferablythese shouldered portions 18 are strengthened by means of upwardlyextending webs 19, as shown.

The skirt portions 16 of the bolster, which embrace between the axle 1,are formed at their middle portions with vertically elongated slots 20,the slots of the two skirt portions registering, as shown, and these twoslots 20 are designed to receive and accommodate a pin 21 which ismounted for free movement therein and which is preferably held in placesolely by means of retaining plates 22 preferably bolted to the skirtportions 16, as clearly illustrated in the drawings, the pin 21 passingthrough an opening formed for it in the axle 1 and carried thereby. I

Preferably the face plate 4 of the bolster is formed with openings 23 toreceive the ends of a coupling link 24 held in place by belts or similarfastening devices.

Hill

In the operation of the bolster, it is manifest that so long asthegrader, for example, is traveling along a comparatively even road, theshouldered portions 18 thereof will rest solidly and fiat upon the upperedgeof the front axle and all chattering will be avoided.

When the grader is thrown to an extreme position, as for instance, whenit is run up on a bank or down into a ditch, obviously the axle has roomto flex by means of the vertically elongated slots 20 and. the pin 21moving therein, while at the same time the pin will keep the bolster'centralrelative to the axle in all positions of the latter.

While the accompanying drawing illustrateswhat I believe to be thepreferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that theinvention isnot limited thereto, but that various changes may be made inthe construction'and arrangement and proportions of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed, is:

.1; In an implement'of the character described, frame bars, a frontaxle, and a bolster adapted to support the forward end of the frame barsupon and above said axle, said bolster being formed with a. forwardlyinclined face plate provided at its side portions with rearwardlyextending wings to which the forward ends of the frame bars arefastened, said bolster being also provided with downwardly projectingskirt portions spaced longitudinally one from the other and embracingthe axle between them, said skirt portions being respectively formedwith 1ongitudinally disposed slots, a. pin carried by the axle andmovable at its ends freely in said slots, and means for retaining saidpin in said slots, the bolster being also provided at the ends of andoining the skirt portions together with downwardly facing shouldersadapted to rest upon the top of the-axle.

2. In an implement of the character described, frame bars, a front axle,and a bolster adapted to support the forward end of the frame bars uponand above said axle, said bolster being formed with a forwardly inclinedface plate provided at its side portions gether with downwardly facingshoulders adapted to rest upon the top of the axle, the bolster beingfurther provided with vertically disposed strengthening webs oining theshouldered portions to the lower sides of the side wings.

3. In a road grader, frame bars, draw bars, a front axle, and a bolsteradapted to support the frame bars and draw bars above and from the frontaxle, said bolster being formed with a forwardly inclined face plate,With side wings extending rearwardly from the upper portion of the faceplate and slightly depressed attheir upper ed es below the upper edge ofthefaoe plate, tie front ends of the frame bars being fastened to saidside wings, a transversely extending top plate secured to the framebars. at the front ends thereof and having its front edge extendingflush with the top edge of the face plate, the bolster being furtherprovided with a. transverse web formed on its upper surface with anupstanding boss having an opening therein, and the top plate beingformed with a corresponding opening, a pivot pin held in said openingsand with which the draw-bars have a pivotal connection at their frontends, the bolster being also provided with downwardly projecting skirtportions having shoulders at their ends adapted to rest on the to oftheaxle, and having between said 'shoulc ers vertically elongated slots, apin moavble freely in said slots and carried bythe axle, and coverplates secured to the depending skirt portions over the slots andadapted to retain said pin in place.

In testimony whereof I a-ffix my signature.

FRANKLIN E. ARNDT.

